This blog is a part of self discovery, a symbol of my passion for writing - my madness, an attempt to be a part of the 'Write-A-Thon'. This is my space - beyond the judgement of others. Here, I dabble mostly in romance, poetry, shayari, book reviews, social issues that bother me and trending topics (venturing out of my comfort zone) with a dash of personal insights about life - an entertaining fiction itself!

Wednesday, 17 December 2014

‘Lost
in Pattaya’ is a work of brilliance! The title is perfect and sounds good too. It
is a tale about a father’s search for his daughter, his guilt that almost
destroys his career. It is about failed relationships and strange new
relationships. The search for his daughter pushes Palash deeper into the world
of human trafficking and prostitution. There were places where I hated him and
felt justified for his loss and places where I felt bad for him too. Whether or not he is able to find his
daughter and even if he finds her, is it too late? These are some of the
questions that will haunt you till you find out the answers.

I
liked Kishore Modak’s writing style, there was a surprise hidden around
every paragraph! There are some nail biting adventurous moments in the book as
well as some beautiful, heart touching moments. Though the title and cover page
with a sad girl suggest that the story is about a lost girl, it is more about
the father.

The
book starts off with a medium pace but after a few pages, it becomes almost
impossible to put it down. The author has blended adventure, suffering and
emotions in proper proportions. The best part of the book is the way
it portrays a father's unflinching love and sacrifice for his
daughter. The story doesn’t terminate easily and there is a lot more in
it!

The
best part about this book is it talks about people who are not perfect, who
make mistakes and that’s what makes them more relatable. It’s a story of
self-discovery in which the lead characters passed through various shades of
life.

The
concept of sex trade and involvement of mafia group is the main highlight of
the story. The characterization done by author is strong as he peeks into the
thoughts of a helpless man caught in addictions.

The book is an interesting casual
read with strong plot and good narration. Although the plot is disturbing and
violent, but Kishore manages to breeze the readers through the tough subject
due to his gripping narration and mysterious pacing. The plight of a father and
a man has been showcased rather convincingly through words.

The second half gets better when the mystery unfolds and it leads to strange
revelations. The second half covers up for the slow beginning. It becomes more
of a personal quest for Palash than for his daughter. There are narrations
about the lanes of Pattaya, drug peddlers, prostitution and other dark alleys
where you would never want to venture, but can be virtually explored through
the book.

'Lost
in Pattaya' offered me a new flavor which is quite different as well as
interesting from the regular romantic, corporate drama books which I read so
far. Read it for powerful narrations, good vocabulary, some magical sentences
and to visit the darker side of the world. Recommended!

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

My parents are having a tough time
finding a suitable groom for me. However, recently they have a proposal from
this very interesting guy from Mumbai. I almost get mesmerised when he starts talking
to me. I think I like him very much.

Kunal – I'm owner of a textile
company in Mumbai. My Mom wants me to get married. Again. She has recently
suggested a suitable girl from Delhi. What my Mom doesn't know is that I've met
Shreya before once in my life and I've been looking for her ever since. I have
a vendetta to settle.

The author takes you along on a
journey via roads of revenge, agony, remorse, attraction, titillation,
tantalisation and romance. Do Shreya and Kunal make it, or do they fall prey to
their past?

*************

A
new love story to hit my shelf recently: He Fixed the Match She Fixed
Him by Shikha.

I
loved the cover! The title chosen by the author instantly pumps you to dig for
more. It is about a strong woman who not only mends her marriage but the man
too. Interesting, isn't it?

First
of all, this isn't a typical lovey-dovey love story! It is an intriguing read
that makes you effortlessly flip pages!

This
is a story of twists and turns, where a woman is made a pawn by the very
man she marries. It is fast paced and hits you emotionally! This book goes on
to narrate the most authentic way of dealing with human relationships.

The
book starts with finding a match through the arranged marriage route in this
e-age world. It strikes a perfect balance between traditional values and modern
outlook. One can relate to the story since beginning and can see resemblances
from one’s own life or people around. Every now and then comes the jerk and you
are transported to an amazing turn in the story. The novel fills you with a
plethora of emotions. It takes you through a journey of suspense, revenge, love,
hatred, attraction, agony, repentance, realisation and romance in 300 pages.

I
loved the detailing that the author has put into explaining the facts. The plot
of the book is well planned and everything is revealed at just the right time!
I like thick books, and more even when they get better with each passing page!

Shikha
has interwoven the personal relationships, not only restricting to a man and a
woman, but to our society. There are no loopholes and the story flows linearly.
Kudos to a debut author for such a flawless work.

Language
used in the book is easy to comprehend. A witty read that will grab you from
start to finish at one go. It will win your heart and linger your mind with all
the positive thoughts about marriage. It is a complete package.

There
are no villains in this book. All the characters are sketched flawlessly apart
from the two main protagonists. A sweet book with a meaningful message. If you
are bored with the usual love stories, this is the one you should get. An
enjoyable, breezy read! Highly recommended.

My Ratings: 4.5/5

Kudos to Shikha for the out of the box, impressive
trailer of the book. Check it out!

Monday, 1 December 2014

Facts -
A massive 80% of women surveyed indicate that they prefer to see the clean
shaven face while 77% of women have opted not to kiss a man due to having a
beard or stubble.

Beards
and stubble are associated with hipsters because improbable facial hair fit
well with the new pioneer element of hipsterness who don't have time to shave!

Nowadays,
I find beards sprouting from the unlikeliest faces. Eeks! That's not fashion,
men! Many men have formed the zealous conviction that their beards place them
at an advantage with the ladies. Well, that's opposite to the facts!

Unfortunately,
some guys have turned it into a fashion statement. Men tend to believe it makes
them look more masculine. Amusingly, the beard has turned into the padded bra
of masculinity because maybe it helps them appear 'big' (read: mature) somehow and 'push'
their masculinity up! *pun intended*

Agreed,
every beard has a story. Be it laziness or not finding a razor around or
cherishing adulthood or showing off the exam pressure or sporting a scientist
look.

Honestly,
if a man is really confident with his sexuality, he should not try to prove it
through facial hair but with intelligence, wit and by making a woman feel
special through his efforts. We, women go to great lengths to get ready for
that big first date and make a lasting impression, so should men!

***************

Ashar
hadn't shaved for 2 weeks now. At first it seemed like a nice change of pace,
but now I hate the hairy, face-hugging alien that’s taken over his face. I feel
like my husband's face is like a million tiny needles poking me. Despite
repeatedly telling him, he kept saying that it suited him. I agreed. It did
suit him. He did look hot and tempting. But that's not the way one goes to
work. Most importantly, Aliya. Our one year old daughter; she doesn't find
Ashar's stubble pleasant.

After
urging him alot, Ashar shaved this morning! He affectionately came to Aliya covering
his face with a towel. Aliya lifted the towel to be confronted by a complete
stranger! She simply said, 'Oh!' in her innocent voice!

Ashar repents of having lost out on fun time with Aliya. Aliya now chuckles comfortably
in her daddy's arms to have her clean shaven daddy back! She looks her father up and down, gently
caresses his freshly shaven skin, it’s as if she looks into his clean and pure
soul. My beautiful baby proves her unconditional love as she rests her head on
her daddy’s face in one of the most amazing and emotional moments. My Aliya now
plays peek-a-boo with her father again. She's a Daddy’s Girl!

Check
this ultra cute video of a Baby Girl's Response to Daddy's First Shave:

P.S: This post is a part of
#WillYouShave activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette

Preethi
Venugopal (http://tulipsandme.blogspot.in/) tagged me to
write this post for the #WillYouShave activity by Gillette. I wish to tag -http://karan-sampat.blogspot.in/ (Karan Sampat) https://ashadeofpen.wordpress.com/ (Shruti Fatehpuria)http://www.anitaexplorer.com/(Anita S)http://jyotsnabhatia.blogspot.in/(Jyotsna Bhatia) to take up this
challenge.

Write
a blog on any of these themes-

1. Missed
chances- Stories or instances where you missed out on an opportunity
because of a non-shaven face

2. Luck
or Confidence?- Will you leave your fate in the hands of destiny or will you
step up and say yes to a well- groomed face to be at your best everyday?
#WillYouShave?

Ladies,
you have a say in this too! Write a blog post about the men in your life on the
following themes.

1. An
instance when a stubble came in the way of a man's chance to make a good
impression

2. An
instance when a well groomed look ensured that they struck gold on an
opportunity given to them